3 Types of Drain Repair Problems (and How to Avoid Them!)

Your drains can be fabulous. Or they can be a real pain. Often, homeowners only find out they have a problem once it becomes serious, by which time the damage is usually extensive. Some ways to avoid needing expensive drain repair services is to keep a close eye on your drainage system. Even so, you might experience some problems. Here are the most common types of drain repair needed.

Unblocking Debris

Simple blockages are usually the culprits when water gets backed up in the toilet, shower or sink. These are typically causes by debris blocking the pipes, which could be caused by:

Loose hair and skin cells in the bathroom

Waste food and grease buildup in the kitchen

Overuse of bathroom tissue or disposal of sanitary products in the toilet.

These are mostly easy drain repair jobs that require the use of a plunger, plumber’s snake or a high pressure hydro-jet to clear them.

How to avoid this: Have your drains cleaned professionally every few years and flush them through with boiling water on a regular basis to avoid blockages.

Removal of Tree Roots

When tree roots are drawn to the moisture from hairline cracks in your Toronto drains, they typically penetrate the drainpipes and create a net that traps your household debris or sewage. This usually causes major damage to the pipes and the drainage system, and you’ll need a drain repair professional to deal with the problem. Most likely, the ground in the area will need to be excavated to remove the offending roots, and possibly the tree will also have to be taken out. After that, your plumbing contractor will be able to replace the section of drain pipe that is damaged.

How to avoid this: Have regular drain camera inspections conducted of your system, particularly in areas where you have large trees. That way, you’ll be able to address potential issues before they become costly problems.

Pooling Water

When you see water pooling in your basement or yard, chances are good it’s caused by a broken or cracked drainage pipe. If you’re particularly unfortunate, it’s a pipe that carries sewage and you’ll have an odour to deal with as well. If you don’t attend to it right away, it can cause additional problems such as damage to your foundation, unhealthy bacteria entering your home and a flood if you experience heavy rain.

How to avoid this: At the first signs of standing water, get a professional plumbing contractor in to inspect the problem. You might not need to dig up half your yard to resolve it; methods such as pipe bursting and replacement go a long way these days towards painless drain repair. Your plumber will use a camera to determine the extent of the damage before giving you an estimate for the work.

Drain repair doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Be proactive and attend to problems early and you’ll avoid the hassle and expense of major repairs.